Xanadu First Preview- Page 4

[lisaspo]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 3:22am

Not sure if I really want to jump into the fray here... it's a little intimidating to post a contrary view to such a vehement critique, but, here I go... I actually really enjoyed the show.

I've admittedly been excited about this show since I heard it was being developed... the 11-year-old me loved Xanadu the movie when it came out and even as I got older and saw more and more faults with it in repeated viewings, I've always had an affection for it. I was looking forward to the show tonight and *wanted* it to be good... but I kind of accepted the very real possibility it would be total crap... and was pleasantly surprised.

I thought the production was well-suited to the space... the stage was pretty small with much of it taken up with on-stage seating. Cast members often exited by actually coming down the steps from the stage and exiting through a door in the house.

The music is generally the same as the movie... I didn't realize there would be new songs (not original songs, but, new to the story) thrown in, but, I liked them. The story was definitely altered significantly... I wasn't crazy about some of the changes with Danny's character, but, in general I thought it worked.

Definitely very self-referential and tongue in cheek... sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. The flipping back and forth from the more "formal" language that the muses sometimes used to more slangish/casual language didn't work for me. I also thought while they made good use of a small cast, some of the scenes weren't served as well as they might have been by larger production numbers.

For a first preview, I thought everything seemed in really good shape. There was a little hesitancy on the skates... and it took me a little while to warm up to the main characters, but, overall, I had a lot of fun.

One personal pet peeve... I *hate* "forced" audience participation... if the clapping along to a song doesn't come naturally, no amount of waving your hands in the air and gesturing at the audience is going to make it happen. :P

I agree that a lot of people may not feel this show is "worth" $100+... My sense, though, is that there will often be discounts and rush and, also, the obstructed on-stage seats are $41.25.

Bottom line, I had a great time (and so did my friends), but, I wouldn't recommend Xanadu without knowing someone and feeling like I know their sense of humor and taste in shows. It's not for everybody, but, I think a lot of people will end up enjoying it.

[gustof777]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 3:27am

dang I hope it gets better. I really was excited for this based off of the cast. Thanks for your review munk

[andyf]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 3:28am

Holy sh*t.

I think that pretty accurately sums up the genuine feelings of disbelief and awe I felt tonight during Xanadu.

To say it was a sh*tshow would be a huge understatement, but maybe also misleading. The show was definitely campy, but maybe unintentionally so, for me anyway. The show itself, when trying too hard to be self-referential and not take itself too seriously (they made jokes about Les Miz playing across the street at one point) fails miserably. The greatest moments are the ones that aren't necessarily so "funny" - a personal favorite, André Ward cutting of Kerry Butler with "B*tch, I don't know yo' liiiiiiiife!" There a few moments of jarringly current colloquialisms that left me and my friend with our mouths hanging open. Brava!

Now I can't say for certain whether I was laughing at them or with them, but I can say that I laughed tonight. And I laughed a LOT. I was genuinely in awe of what I was seeing and if it comes on TDF, I highly recommend anyone see it. It's an experience. It's something the likes of which I don't think I've ever seen (we're on a different level than In My Life here, people).

Kerry Butler was surprisingly enjoyable and God bless that woman for somehow managing to carry this THING and keep a smile on her face and keep giggling the whole time. The cast definitely has the right sense of humor about this.

Speaking of the cast, Mary Testa - blaaaaaaaaaah. Being large doesn't automatically make you sassy, and she was an oblivious case-in-point to this fact. Her voice is as bland as her vibrato is wide.

Jackie Hoffman got a bunch of (obvious) laughs making jokes about the audience was full of gays. I guess if the one-trick pony ain't broke...

Curtis Holbrook was a standout because he's given the opportunity to do so. He demonstrates again what a magnetic performer he is and what an AMAZING dancer he is. You can't take your eyes off him the whole show.

André Ward should also be noted. The man is full o' sass and his Centaur was fabtastic. I looked in the playbill and can absolutely believe that he is a cover for Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman.

Anika Larsen and Kenita Miller got to do nothing. But their both listed as covers for Clio/Kira and I'd see either one (especially Anika) in a heartbeat.

All in all, I have to say.... you need to see this show. And you need to see it now. It's something to be seen, for better or worse.

I say find your Xanadu, folks (even against your better judgment)! I guarantee you'll laugh, for one reason or another.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 5:25am

thanks for the reviews guys.... let's hope it gets better!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 9:19am

I found it very interesting that, in one of the broadway.com video segments, Douglas Carter Beane said he didn't want to watch the movie. Something to the effect of "They kept telling me I have to watch this movie because I have to write the book and I kept saying 'No, I don't wanna.'"

This brings about the question: Why are people who didn't have an affection for the movie doing the show? Did the producers just get together and say, "Omigod! XANADU! It'll bring in the gays, the little girls who want to be blonde and popular, and all the post-Boomers who grew up on ELO! I smell hit!"

Did anyone involved in the creative process have an affection for the utter one-of-a-kind-ness that is XANADU? If not, why do it?

Updated On: 5/24/07 at 09:19 AM

[Craig]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 9:43am

"Well Craig has been talking about this show for a while (including giving us information on the Set etc.) so I would assume that he knows somebody involved. "

Neddy - the information that has been published on this site (news, video and audio) is not an indication that I know someone involved - but rather that I'm a member of the press and was invited (as were many media outlets) by the PR firm handling the production.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 9:45am

it sounds Camp as Xmas in a good and bad way, im hardly surprised that Munk didn't like the show though

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 10:08am

Kerry's accent was in and out...I'm sure it will improve as previews go on.

Thank you so much for your review, Munk. I would have written one, but honestly, this is a difficult show to review. It is intentionally bad, so saying that the show is bad is obvious.

I found I wasn't laughing as much as the rest of the audience, but I did enjoy it more than I thought I would.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:37am

The high point of the show for me was watching the woman in the 1st row of on stage-seating (in the yellow) fall asleep.

How can you even critique Kerry's accent? She's not supposed to really be Australian. Her accent is deliberately bad.

It reminds me of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. DROWSY masked their faults by saying "Oh, stop - this show is fun! It's JUST what it is!" So you couldn't pick it apart for being too one thing or the other because they blatantly shove the notion down your throat that the show is supposed to be FUN! It's an excuse.

Self-referential shows are always covering up their flaws. XANADU tries to be bad, but it succeeds on being bad on an entirely different level. The jokes are all cheap, poorly written, and really, just not funny.

I don't mean to be harsh, but I can't see this show lasting through the summer.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:40am

True true (regarding the accent), but I guess we'll never know if that was a character choice or a mistake on her part...

Did a woman on stage really fall asleep?? Amazing.
Updated On: 5/24/07 at 11:40 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:44am

Yeah, she was in and out the show show.

I feel safe in saying that, at times, her accent was meant to be deliberately exaggerated and over the top. Again, an attempt at camp.

Perhaps this should would be forgivable if it were on a cruise ship, where it belongs. Why they decided to open on Broadway, cold, is something that will NEVER make sense to me.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 11:50am

I agree...this show would be PERFECT on a gay cruise! It does not belong on Broadway though.
Updated On: 5/24/07 at 11:50 AM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:05pm

I always regretted missing "In My Life" and "Lestat". Is it one of those shows that I should see just because it will go down in history as being legendarily bad?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:07pm

No, it's different.

First of all, it TRIES to be bad. It juse succeeds in the wrong vein of badness.

I coudln't, with good conscious, recommend this show to anyone.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:08pm

No. The difference between Xanadu and IML & Lestat is that Xanadu is supposed to be bad. The writers of IML and Lestat actually wanted the audience to view those show as serious musicals. You will not regret missing Xanadu...I'm sorry you missed IML and Lestat though.

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:24pm

Typical Broadway Bitching Bitch Fest. Same people... Same annoying habits to not let a show work in its preview period till opening. Instead immediately shoot it down and don't give anyone in the production a chance or a shadow of a doubt to fix anything and immediately try to put the actors out of a job. After seeing Show Business i now have seen the light about the idiots aka Michael Reidel Impersonators that run RAMPANT on this website. You are entitled to your opinion as you did pay to see the show... but you could at least hold your tongue no matter how bad or good something is till its had the time to work out the problems. And if it doesn't get fixed by opening night then truly at that point the tradition to give a review good or bad is order. Anyone who commits to writing a reveiw before opening night has absolutely no respect for the art of theatre or anyone in it. Typical bad taste has been dished here again.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:32pm

You know, a show really doesn't change THAT much in previews. It's not like there will be an entire new show by opening night.


And no one should have to "hold their tongue" if they don't like a show. If they think it sucked, they have every right to say so, previews or not.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:34pm

"Had I posted a RAVE review, you wouldn't have said anything."

exactly.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:35pm

C'mon- I dont mean to contradict anyone but there is really no "rule" that you can comment or state your opinions on shows that were on previews.Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, besides I love reading those early previews whether its good or bad. No matter what - I will still see it ( bec. I love broadway shows) and make my own opinion whether I like the show or not. For me-The point of reading this early reviews is after I seen the show , I can say to myself.. yeah- I agree with him.. nope- I definitely disagree with him with that ! I think we all love Broadway and the point of this thread is a free discussion of our passion for the theater.

BTW- I also ask these people to post their opinion on the show on previews and if you dont like what they say... you can always SKKKKKKKIIIIPPPPPPPPPP to the next one-or better wait for the opening day and watch Brodwaycom's Word of Mouth -J*


Updated On: 5/24/07 at 12:35 PM

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:53pm

and as far as there being a "RULE" about reviews.... actually it has always been after opening that it is acceptable to give a review. Has been since the beginning of time of broadway theatre, perhaps longer.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:57pm

Actually, Fab, I didn't pay for the show.

feng: I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL CRITIC! OBVIOUSLY! There are no "rules" when it comes to expressing your opinion. Just because this is in black and white on the internet doesn't make it anymore real or threatening than if I had just SAID these thoughts.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 12:57pm

that "rule" about only reviewing shows on or after opening night is for professional critics only. since the age of the internet, everyone is now allowed to "review" shows at the invited dress, the first preview, or any performance we attend and many people will get to see it. if you want to enforce your "rule" of only reviewing shows on or after opening, you're going to have to destroy the Internet...and that's not going to happen.

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 1:02pm

I knew someone was going to pull the Its only for critics/internet thing. Uhmmmm well wouldn't that make anyone on a website a critic... be it official or unofficial. So that would apply to everyone... and even if you don't go by that standard... it is proper Etiquette!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 1:07pm

So then even if my comments were nice, I shouldn't have said anything?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/24/07 at 1:07pm

i am NOT a critic. my reviews on this board are not seen in national newspapers and my reviews do not affect ticket sales on shows. i LOVE theater and will continue to post my thoughts on first previews for the rest of my life. if you don't like it, don't read them.